By Mark Baber
August 23 – Arsenal Football Club has announced betting company Paddy Power as its Official Betting Partner in the UK, Ireland and Italy for the next three years.
The deal marks a return to the club for the Irish bookmaker who will be offering “a combination of industry-leading offers and exclusive bets around key fixtures throughout the season” as well as their “unique brand of entertainment to millions of Arsenal fans through the Club’s digital and social media channels.”
Arsenal have long-standing ties to Ireland, with some of the club’s greatest players including Liam Brady, Dave O’Leary and Frank Stapleton hailing from the Emerald Isle. Paddy Power are known for mischievous and sometimes innovative advertising campaigns.
The recent PaddyPower “2nd job for substitutes” campaign struck a chord with many fans with posters suggesting ex-Gunner Andrei Arshavin should be cleaning the toilets in block D at the Emirates and targeting one-time Arsenal target Luis Suarez saying “Biting, diving, CHEATING. Keep it up Luis!’
In a current campaign, PaddyPower have organised for every single player of non-League Farnborough FC to legally change their name to those of iconic footballers and managers, including Banks, Beckenbauer, Beckham, Cruyff, Ferguson, Maldini, Maradona, Messi, Mourinho, Pele and Zidane.
Arsenal’s head of global partnerships, Vinai Venkatesham, said: “As we enter into the season, we are delighted to have agreed a long-term deal to welcome back Paddy Power as a partner. They are a respected leader within the betting industry, and our partnership will ensure Arsenal fans have access to unique betting offers when backing their team.”
Paddy Power, company spokesman, said: “We’re really pleased to be back as partners of Arsenal and we’ll be looking to provide fans with unbeatable value as well as some great entertainment throughout the season.”
Arsenal has also just completed an online gaming partnership focussing on Asia, with a three-year del withBodog. Arsenal’s pre-season tour to Indonesia, Vietnam and Japan reinforced their commitment to their brand and fans in the region, rewarding the club with a deal believed to be worth “multi-millions”
The agreement allows Bodog to generate content and implement marketing drives using Arsenal first-team players. Bodog also has access to the club’s database and will be able to target fans in Asia with tailored betting offers around matches.
Meanwhile SBOBet has added Southampton as its Asian betting partner. He Saints are the fifth Premier League team on the SBOBet roster, alongside Hull, Norwich, Swansea and West Ham.
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